Collection Overview

Series I: Personal and Family. This series contains materials related to Eleanor Bader’s personal and family life.

Sub-series A: Personal Information. This sub-series contains items related to Eleanor Bader’s personal history including her birth certificate and baby book. Material is arranged alphabetically as not all items are dated.

Sub-series B: Family Information. This sub-series contains items related to Eleanor Bader’s family life including correspondence with relatives and materials specific to family members and her fiancé John Jack Walsh who was killed in World War II. Material dates from the 1930s to the 1990s and is arranged alphabetically.

Sub-series C: Religious. This sub-series contains material of a religious nature including religious certificates, correspondence, inspiration, and ordination and memorial cards. Material dates from the 1940s to the 1960s and is arranged alphabetically and then chronologically.

Sub-series D: Correspondence. This sub-series contains personal correspondence, invitations, and greeting cards from the 1940s to the 1970s. Additionally birthday cards from Eleanor Bader’s 90th birthday in March 2012 have been included. Material is arranged by type of material and then chronologically.

Sub-series E: Personal Finances and Housing. This sub-series contains information related to Eleanor Bader’s banking and personal finances, income taxes, housing, and insurance. Income taxes are included to show how little income civil servants actually made. Materials are further broken into sub-headings which, with the exception of income taxes, are arranged alphabetically. Income taxes are arranged chronologically. Material dates from 1945-1973.

Sub-series F: Memorabilia. This sub-series includes travel souvenirs and memorabilia from trips to Ireland and Mexico, and a cruise on the S.S. Nassau. Also included is a 1973 Inauguration Program for Richard Nixon. Additional materials include travel maps, brochures, and foreign stamps. Materials are arranged alphabetically as not all materials are dated.

Sub-series G: Miscellaneous. This sub-series contains various items related to Eleanor Bader’s personal life that do not fit easily into the other sub-series including drawings, recipes, voter cards, and fishing licenses. Materials are arranged alphabetically as not all materials are dated.

Series II: Education. This series contains materials related to Eleanor Bader’s education from elementary school through college.

Sub-series A: C.B. Lore Elementary / Bayard Junior High School. This sub-series contains school records and other materials related to Eleanor Bader’s elementary and junior high school life. Material dates from 1930-36 and is arranged chronologically.

Sub-series B: Salesianum Catholic High School for Boys. Salesianum was the boy’s counterpart to Ursuline Academy for girls. Material is arranged chronologically and relates to graduations from 1938-40.

Sub-series C: Ursuline Academy. Ursuline Academy was the Catholic girls’ high school attended by Eleanor Bader. Material includes school records, awards, commencements, recital programs, and other school related items. Material is arranged chronologically and dates from 1936-40. Also included is an alumnae bulletin from 1958.

Sub-series D: University of Delaware Women’s College. This sub-series contains materials related to Eleanor Bader’s college education while she sought her Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education and later as an involved alumnus of the college. Material includes school records, correspondence, programs, news clippings, and items related to the Advisory Committee on the Education of Women and the alumni association. Material dates from 1940 through the 1990s and is arranged chronologically.

Sub-series E: University of Pennsylvania. This sub-series contains materials related to Eleanor Bader’s participation in the university’s Physical Therapy Program and also the university’s alumni association. Material dates from 1943-44 and is arranged chronologically.

Series III: Career. This series contains materials related to Eleanor Bader’s career.

Sub-series A: Delaware Curative Workshop (1945-1961). This sub-series contains materials related to Eleanor Bader’s time with the Delaware Curative Workshop including correspondence, meetings, newsletters, news clippings, speeches, conference information, and reports. Also included are materials related to the testimonial dinner for Eleanor Bader upon leaving the Delaware Curative Workshop and materials related to her involvement with the Delaware Society for Crippled Children before she was hired by the National Society for Crippled Children and Adults. Material is broken into sub-headings which are then arranged alphabetically. Materials date from 1945-61.

Sub-series B: National Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children and Adults (1961-1971). First called the National Society for Crippled Children and Adults, the organization later changed its name to the National Easter Seal Society. This sub-series contains materials related to Eleanor Bader’s time working for this organization. Material includes correspondence, committee information, meetings, newsletters, news clippings, speeches, conference information, reports, and personnel information for Eleanor Bader. Of note are materials related to the DIADEM trip of 1965, a trip involving a delegation of disabled children from the United States to Denmark to foster relationships between disabled American and Danish youth. Material is broken into sub-headings which are then arranged alphabetically. Material dates from 1961-71.

Sub-series C: ACTION / Foster Grandparents Program (1971-1972). This sub-series contains material related to Eleanor Bader’s brief time working for the Federal Government ACTION agency’s Foster Grandparents Program. Included are correspondence, news clippings, newsletters, personnel files for Eleanor Bader, and an Action Guide to the Foster Grandparent Programs. Material dates from 1971-72 and is arranged alphabetically.

Sub-series D: Social Security Administration (1972-1985). This sub-series contains material related to multiple positions Eleanor Bader held with the Social Security Administration. Material includes correspondence, news clippings, newsletters, personnel and travel records for Eleanor Bader, awards, commendations, letters of appreciation, and information on conferences. Material is broken into sub-headings which are then arranged alphabetically. Material dates from 1972-85.

Sub-series E: Eleanor J. Bader General Career. This sub-series contains material related to Eleanor Bader’s general career, rather than material specific to the individual jobs she held. Materials include biographical sketches, curriculum vitae, resumes, licenses and certifications, and information on her job searches. Material is arranged alphabetically and dates from the 1940s through the 1980s.

Series IV: Organizations. This series contains materials related to professional and civic organizations Eleanor Bader has been involved in.

Sub-series A: American Legion Auxiliary. Eleanor Bader is a lifetime member of this organization. Materials consist of membership cards. The only card with a date listed is from 2010.

Sub-series B: American Physical Therapy Association. Eleanor Bader was a member of this organization. Materials include correspondence, finances, committees, conference information, organizational materials, articles and speeches by Eleanor Bader and others, newsletters, and reports. Material is arranged alphabetically and dates from the 1940s through the 1970s.

Sub-series C: American Registry of Physical Therapy Technicians. Eleanor Bader was a member of this organization. Materials include bylaws and licenses granted to Eleanor Bader. Materials date from 1946-52 and are arranged alphabetically.

Sub-series E: B’nai B’rith of Wilmington. Eleanor Bader was a volunteer for this organization. Material includes a newsletter and correspondence to Eleanor Bader requesting her to serve on a panel of judges for the B’nai B’rith Citizenship Award. Material is from 1958 and is arranged alphabetically.

Sub-series F: Cancer Care Foundation of Tidewater. Eleanor Bader was a volunteer for this organization. Material includes volunteer information from 2004-07 and is arranged alphabetically.

Sub-series G: Delaware Chapter of the American Red Cross. Eleanor Bader was a volunteer for this organization. Material includes Red Cross certificates from 1943, 1953, and 1954. Material is arranged chronologically.

Sub-series H: Delaware Society of Physical Therapists. Eleanor Bader was a member of this organization. Material includes financial ledgers from 1947-50. Material is arranged chronologically.

Sub-series I: National Association of Rehabilitation Facilities. Eleanor Bader is a life member of this organization. Includes material on the President’s Award awarded to Eleanor Bader in 1985, correspondence, and a speech by Eleanor Bader titled “Is Money the Whole Answer?” Material is from 1985 and is arranged alphabetically.

Sub-series J: National Rehabilitation Association. Eleanor Bader is a life member of this organization. Materials include newsletters, news clippings, and membership certificates. Material dates from 1955 to 1964 and is arranged alphabetically.

Sub-series K: Pilot Club of Wilmington. Eleanor Bader was a member of this organization. Material includes bylaws, reports, calendars, correspondence, handbooks, convention information, event information, meetings, newsletters, news clippings, and membership information. Materials are arranged alphabetically and date from 1946-77.

Sub-series L: State Board of Physical Therapists and Licensing. Eleanor Bader was a member of this organization. Material consists of certificates from 1955. Material is arranged alphabetically.

Sub-series M: Virginia Symphony League. Eleanor Bader was a member and volunteer for this organization. Material includes information on the board, events, fundraisers, and correspondence. Material dates from 2008-2011 and is arranged alphabetically.

Sub-series N: Virginia Opera Association and Virginia Opera Guild. Eleanor Bader was a member, volunteer, and docent for this organization. Material includes correspondence and certificates. Material dates from the 1990s through the 2000s and is arranged alphabetically. Further materials related to the Virginia Opera and Eleanor Bader’s role as a docent for the organization can be found on the Virginia Opera Collection, MG 85. These materials have also been donated to the ODU Special Collections by Eleanor Bader.

Sub-series O: WHRO. Eleanor Bader was a volunteer for this organization. Material is related to the WHRO Pioneer Awards fundraiser from 2004-07. Material is arranged chronologically.

Series V: Miscellaneous. This series contains miscellaneous items such as business cards and newspaper clippings from the 1950s. Material is arranged alphabetically.

Series VI: Multimedia. This series contains multimedia items including photographs and an audio reel.

Sub-series A: Photos. This sub-series contains photos from Eleanor Bader’s career and personal life. Material is arranged alphabetically, as most items are undated.

Sub-series B: Audio.This sub-series contains a magnetic reel tape of the 1961 Testimonial Dinner for Eleanor Bader upon her departure from the Delaware Curative Workshop.

Series VII: Oversize materials, memorabilia, and artifacts. This series includes larger materials that won’t fit into our standard boxes as well as non-paper items including souvenirs, school materials, awards, patches, scrapbooks, and so on. Many items are undated. Materials are sorted into categories and are arranged by type of material.

Abstract

Chronicling the family and personal life, education, career, and community involvement of Eleanor J. Bader. Career includes work with the Delaware Curative Workshop, the National Easter Seal Society, and the Social Security Administration. Community involvment includes membership and volunteer work for the Virginia Opera, the Virginia Symphony, Cancer Care Foundation of Tidewater, WHRO, and many other professional and civic organizations in Virginia and Delaware. Materials in the collection include personal, religious, and professional certificates, awards, and licenses; business and civic papers; conference materials; correspondence; photos; and memorabilia from her life and travels.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

These papers chronicle the family and personal life, education, career, and community involvement of Eleanor J. Bader. Material dates from her birth in 1922 to her 90th birthday celebration in 2012. Materials in the collection include personal, religious, and professional certificates, awards, and licenses; business and civic papers; conference materials; correspondence; photos; and memorabilia from her life and travels.

Collection Historical Note

Eleanor Johanne Bader was born March 15, 1922, in Wilmington, Delaware. She is the daughter of John A. Bader II and Eleanor Verena Antweiler Bader and the second of three children, Francis, her older brother and Anne her younger sister.

She attended Ursuline Academy, a Catholic high school for girls, in Wilmington, graduating from high school in 1940. Ms. Bader graduated from the University of Delaware in December 1943 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education. She attended the Physical Therapy graduate program at the Graduate School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and was awarded a certificate in Physical Therapy in 1944. At that time, the University did not grant degrees in Physical Therapy.

Ms. Bader received her certification in physical therapy in 1946 from the American Registry of Physical Therapists. In October 1945, she joined the Delaware Curative Workshop in Wilmington, Delaware, as a founding member. The DCW was originally funded by the Junior League. Later it was funded in part by community donations under the Red Feather/Community Chest umbrella. The Red Feather and Community Chest organizations were founded in the late 19th century and were the forerunner of the United Way organizations. Ms. Bader was named Executive Director of the DCW in October 1950.

She resigned from the Delaware Curative Workshop in 1962 to take a position as Program Consultant with the National Society for Crippled Children and Adults, now known as the Easter Seal Society, headquartered in Chicago. Ms. Bader relocated from Wilmington to Chicago to take this position. During her career with the Easter Seal organization, Ms. Bader held a number of positions, including Director, Care and Treatment Services, and Administrator for Programs. In 1971 Ms. Bader left the Easter Seal Society following reorganization. In 1971 Ms. Bader began her career in public service. Her first position was in the newly formed ACTION agency working on the Foster Grandparents program. In 1972 she moved to the Social Security Administration, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, in Baltimore, Maryland. During her career with the Social Security Administration, Ms. Bader held a number of positions, including Special Assistant to the Director, Bureau of Supplemental Security, Services Coordinator for Evaluation, and Acting Director, OIRPC. During her career with the SSA, Ms. Bader received several commendations, including the Associate Commissioner’s Citation, 1980, and the Commissioner’s Citation, 1978. In 1984 she was named a Switzer Scholar. This annual award recognizes individuals for achievement in the field of rehabilitation. She participated in the Switzer Memorial Seminar that year. She retired from the federal government in 1985 as Special Assistant to the Associate Commissioner for External Liaison. At that time she moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Ms. Bader has been committed to community involvement and civic engagement with professional, volunteer, and cultural organizations throughout her life. She continued a family tradition of civic engagement that she described as grounded in the experience of the World War I veterans who enthusiastically participated in civic life.

She was an active participant in professional organizations such as the American Physical Therapy Association and the National Association of Rehabilitation Facilities. She was a speaker at professional conferences throughout her career. In 1965 and 1967 Ms. Bader participated in the DIADEM program. This program was an exchange program fostering relationships between disabled Danish and American youth. In 1965 Ms. Bader organized a trip to Denmark and traveled there with an American delegation. Fifty-three young people travelled throughout Denmark, sightseeing and exploring the Danish rehabilitation system. Two years later Ms. Bader participated in DIADEM RETURN when a delegation from Denmark visited the United States. In 1985, she received the President’s Award of the National Association of Rehabilitation Facilities for “outstanding contributions to rehabilitation services for disabled persons.” She also received an award from the President’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped.

Ms. Bader was a member of civic organizations such as the Pilot Club International and Beta Sigma Pi during her years in Wilmington, Delaware. She was on the boards of Catholic Social Services, Catholic Education Guild, Arthritis Foundation and the Delaware Easter Seal Society. She also was a member of a community chorus. She was an active alumna of her alma mater, the University of Delaware. In addition, she received the University Medal of Honor in 1984 in recognition of outstanding achievement.

In retirement she had been a volunteer with the Cancer Care Foundation of Tidewater. She had been a board member of the Virginia Opera Guild, which included a term as President, the State Board of the Virginia Opera Association and the Virginia Opera Association Hampton Roads Board of Governors. Ms. Bader was also in the Virginia Symphony League.

Eleanor Bader passed away on October 12, 2013 in her home at Westminster Canterbury in Virginia Beach.

Timeline:

1922 – Birth, Wilmington, Delaware

1940 – High School Graduation, Ursuline Academy, Wilmington, Delaware

1943 – College Graduation, B.S. Health and Physical Education, University of Delaware

Use Restrictions:
Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.